On Saturday, January 31, held the blessing and opening of its student-driven Container Home Project. Reverend Wayne Vidinha, Sr. of Ke Akua Mana Church conducted the blessing. The project, part of the College’s on Kauaʻi, was designed to provide students a broad range of experience in constructing sustainable housing. Carpentry, electrical installation, welding, and facilities engineering students received hands-on field experience throughout the project.

The prototype home, built from a shipping container, is an alternative sustainable living dwelling model. The college’s goals are to prepare students to enter jobs that employ sustainable living solutions in building and to use the prototype home to advance a sustainable living lifestyle on Kauaʻi, and throughout the world.

Materials used to build the home were reused and repurposed. Natural airflow keeps the home well ventilated and cool. Space and size reduced the home’s footprint and amount of land used, while maintaining a comfortable place to live. A porch provides additional living space, where homeowners can enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

• 东精影业 News story: September 28, 2012

Kauaʻi CC Chancellor Helen Cox explains that the prototype home is one example of how the college is responding to the growing emphasis on the need for sustainable living practices. Kauaʻi CC offers a certificate of completion to students who complete the electric vehicle hybrid course. Its new sustainable science certificate has been endorsed by businesses on island for providing important skills related to food, waste, water, construction and energy.

Campus projects include an aquaponics system, apiary and an aeroponics system managed by the culinary program. The college also raised ulu in partnership with the National Tropical Botanical Garden; construct a hydroponics garden and conducted research on beach erosion.

“Kauaʻi CC embraces its huge responsibility to both students and the community to teach the very skills that benefit a thriving community that practices sustainable living,” said Cox. “And we must help develop an understanding of climate change and prepare our students with the expertise to work toward mitigating it.”

Read the for more on the campus’ sustainability efforts.

—By Camilla Matsumoto

celebrates beginning Monday, April 21, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on the campus grounds between the Campus Center and Fine Arts buildings. The goal of the event is to heighten awareness and offer positive and practical sustainable solutions.

The event is open to the students, faculty, staff and the public. All non-profit and for-profit vendors are encouraged to celebrate with us, offer their products or services and share information about sustainable living.

Earth Day 2014 features food, music, giveaway prizes, exhibits and opportunity to visit with members of Kauaʻi CC student clubs. will also be present from 11:30 a.m. to noon to share his views on the importance of honoring Earth Day and celebrate this student-led event.

The event is being led and organized by student government leaders of the Associated Students of University of Hawaiʻi–Kauaʻi Community College (AS东精影业–KCC), Student Activities Council and the students’ Sustainability Club of 东精影业 Kauaʻi Community College, and supported by

—

has been selected to receive a by , a national nonprofit that works to create a healthy, just and sustainable society by transforming higher education.

The awards are presented annually to signatory institutions of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment that demonstrate innovative and advanced leadership in education for sustainability and climate mitigation and adaptation.

“These exemplary institutions have shown us that bold action on climate is not only possible but pragmatic,” said David Hales, president of Second Nature. “Their operational, educational and community initiatives are fueling the thought behind what is both necessary and achievable in addressing climate change, and the labors of these leading institutions will benefit all of society.”

This year, the award program’s fourth, drew the most competitive pool of nominations. The winners were among 20 finalists chosen by Second Nature’s board and represent the diversity of higher education institutions across the U.S.

“Realistically, our challenge is daunting. Kauaʻi imports approximately 90 percent of its food and produces 91 percent of its energy with off-island fossil fuel of which 85 percent is imported from foreign countries,” said Eric Knutzen, director of . “What is so inspiring is the positive attitude of our students, faculty and administrators, who believe that we can make a difference together—now.”

“It’s exciting to be a part of this important work in serving our students and our community with these sustainable living solutions,” said Knutzen. “Whether it is about the recycling and repurposing of entire 40-foot containers with our carpentry students converting them to affordable housing, embedding sustainability concepts into our curriculum or partnering with the county to conceptualize an entire sustainable community—so many are involved and selflessly contributing to the success of these projects.”

For more, read the .

Kauaʻi CC’s sustainability video

More on Hoʻouluwehi: The Sustainable Living Institute of Kauaʻi

• February 26, 2013—
• October 4, 2012— or watch the
• September 28, 2012— or watch the
• September 28, 2012—
• February 8, 2012—

is a finalist in the 2013 Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards and is asking people to vote for a video highlighting their sustainability efforts.

The video promotes the campus sustainability initiatives of including affordable housing, energy, waste management and food production. With the hands-on opportunities the college provides, students are developing the skill sets needed to tackle real challenges.

Voting takes place throughout April in partnership with Planet Forward. Visitors can vote once every 24 hours, so people are encouraged to vote often!

See all the videos and vote for your favorites on the .

The University of Hawaiʻi presents 东精影业 News on OCSports. Narrated by 东精影业 students, the four-and-a-half minute segments air on the OCSports channel during 东精影业 sporting events.

November stories

• (narrated by 东精影业 Mānoa student Mark Rulona)
• (narrated by 东精影业 Mānoa student Leon Sheen)
• (narrated by 东精影业 Mānoa student Emilie Howlett)
• (narrated by 东精影业 Mānoa student Keliʻi Alapai)

东精影业 News on OCSports highlights University of Hawaiʻi programs systemwide.

To view more segments go to the .

is home to Hoʻouluwehi, the Sustainable Living Institute of Kauaʻi. Started in February 2011 by the college, the institute’s main objective is to prepare students and the community for a sustainable life. It started with embedding sustainability principles in the curriculum.

“That’s everything from English to nursing,” said Hoʻouluwehi Director Eric Knutzen. “Culinary for example is working on recycling cooking oil. When the students graduate, they can go off to restaurants, it would be natural for them, and they will actually lead their work groups. We can do this or that to be more sustainable here.”

Kauaʻi Community College is also working towards creating a formal certificate in sustainability. Student Marcus Yamaguchi is participating in the program and is building a hydroponics greenhouse to grow strawberries.

“One of the values of being a part of a program like this is that it puts me in a position to really talk about some of those bigger ideas that are facing our generation now,” said Kauaʻi Community College student Marcus Yamaguchi.

“Our students know they are growing up in a limited resource environment and they want to make a difference,” said Kauaʻi Community College Chancellor Helen Cox. “They’re optimistic, they’re energetic, they’re idealistic.”

They also want to be employable when they leave college.

Yamaguchi’s work in hydroponics could lead to a career.

Carpentry students at the college are beginning work on remodeling storage containers into affordable housing that will cost 34 percent less than a standard home that size. The work will not only expose students to sustainability concepts it will also give them real work experience.

“That’s our goal. To be able to bring that skill set to our students so they’re prepared to really take on those jobs,” said Knutzen.

“To be able to match their interest and their skills with something that’s going to give them a job and help them make a difference in their community is exactly what I want to be doing and I think what the college needs to be doing,” said Cox.

The affordable container housing project is part of a 20 unit, sustainable living center that will include a community aquaponics garden and beehive, even solar energy. It’s about making sure sustainability works economically, environmentally and culturally, and making sure Kauaʻi Community College students understand that synergy.

“We are trying to prepare for the future,” said Yamashita. “We are trying to foresee a time where we have to rely upon our own innovation in order to continue to grow and prosper.”

has launched Hoʻouluwehi: The Sustainable Living Institute of Kauaʻi to partner with the community in creating a culturally, economically, environmentally and socially sustainable Garden Island.

“This is an exciting moment for the college,” said Chancellor Helen Cox. “It is both the culmination of intense work since 2009 and the beginning of a remarkable journey in which we will provide our students opportunities to engage in exciting work in many aspects of sustainability while at the same time provide very real solutions for the Kauaʻi community.”

Working with Hawaiian and local cultural values, the institute will advance partnerships and implement research and projects to foster a more vibrant future for Kauaʻi.

Institute objectives include—

• Assisting the college in reducing its own environmental footprint
• Demonstrating sustainable practices available today as well as conducting applied research on promising technologies and practices
• Providing a training center for green workers, entrepreneurs and interested residents
• Establishing Kauaʻi as a place for tough discussions and helpful resources

“For each of us in the community, the institute can be seen as building upon our history and, in a very practical way, positively affecting everyone on the Kauaʻi in the long term,” said Eric Knutzen, institute director. “Areas of special focus include sustainable living practices in producing food, renewable energy, affordable housing and waste elimination.”

The institute will build upon the campus’s current sustainable programs, including a community garden and the Farm-to-Table project in which students create gourmet dishes from produce straight from the garden.

Students also work with aquaponics, queen bees cultivation and renewable energy programs.

The campus has also allocated land to build two affordable home prototypes that will be open to the public for viewing when completed and will serve as prototypes for developers. “Free online access to the design plans and material purchase lists as well as budgets will be made available. All of this to help address one of Kauaʻi’s greatest sustainable living needs—affordable homes,” said Knutzen.

“We look forward to working together to address issues of sustainability on Kauaʻi and to enable Kauaʻi to no simply carry on but to thrive,” said Cox.

—Adapted from a story by Cammie Matsumoto, director of community relations and special projects, Kauaʻi Community College